3-Phenylpropiophenone was obtained as a white solid (150 mg, 71% yield); m.p. 65-70 °C; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.00 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.59 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.49 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.37-7.26 (m, 5H), 3.35 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.12 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H)

In this experiment, we have demonstrated a catalytic hydrogenation reaction of an alkene. Chalcone was hydrogenated to form 3-phenylpropiophenone.

Hydrogenation is an exothermic reaction (releases heat) because the product alkane is more stable than the reactant alkene. The amount if heat released from the reaction can serve as an indicator of the stability of the alkene. In the food industry, hydrogenation is used for processing vegetable oils, which are triglycerides bearing multiple alkene